Pests cause billions of dollars in damage every year. This includes crops as well as buildings. They also can be a huge nuisance, even if they do no real harm
This is the case with flying ants. They can appear quite threatening, invading your home and disrupting your daily life. The good news is that there are some tried-and-tested ways for how to get rid of flying ants and keep them away.
This article covers some of those methods. Keep reading to learn more about these unique pests and the proper techniques for getting rid of them.
What Are Flying Ants?
Flying ants may seem especially menacing, but they are just normal, mature ants. They are sometimes referred to as “swarmers” or “alates.”
Almost all ants you see crawling on the ground are female ants out collecting food. During the spring and summer months, male ants and new queens–which both have wings–take flight. Their goal is twofold: to mate and set up a new colony for the queen.
Queens are much larger than the males. Also, after they mate, they bite off their wings and begin to look for a new place to nest.
Indoors, you usually only see one or two flying ants. This is usually a stray that has been lost from the swarm.
However, flying ants try to find other swarms. This is for protection against predators, and flying together gives them a better chance to find a mate. Swarms typically occur when the weather is warm and humid.
Confirm They Are Ants (And Not Termites)
Ants and termites require specific extermination measures. So, ensuring that you have an ant problem is the first step to addressing the issue. The good news is that most people mistake flying ants for termites and take immediate action (as opposed to assuming termites are merely flying ants).
Winged ants look a lot like termites. They are the same size and often travel in swarms. However, there are a few distinct characteristics to help you distinguish one from the other.
First, the wings of flying ants are often unequal in length, whereas termites’ wings are symmetrical. The antennae of flying ants are bent, while termites’ are straight.
Flying ants have a more narrow abdomen that is distinct. Termites lack a defined waist and have a more uniform shape.
Finally, termites are notoriously attracted to damp or decaying wood as a food source. Most flying ants are associated with outdoor colonies but have wondered indoors.
Are Flying Ants Dangerous?
Flying ants are no more dangerous than ants you find crawling on the ground. They do not bite and are far less destructive than termites. The main thing you want to avoid is the queen setting up a colony in concealed spaces inside your home.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants
There are many options for how to get rid of flying ants. Here are the main ones to consider.
Preventative Measures
Insects only enter your home for two reasons: they are seeking shelter or food and water. Addressing the shelter issues is more of a challenge, but eliminating any potential food and water sources is easy.
Properly store food and make sure no remnants are left out on surfaces. Also, removing standing water in sinks can help cut down on the temptation for ants to venture inside.
Identifying how the flying ants are getting into your home is another strategy. If there are holes in a door or window screen, or places where it has dislodged from the frame, start by repairing those. Also, look for cracks and crevices around frames and caulk those.
Finally, you can use natural aerosol deterrents to keep flying ants away. Dispensing lemon, orange, cinnamon, or clove essential oils near entryways could help stop ants in their tracks.
Remove Existing Ants
A vacuum cleaner is the easiest way to remove existing flying ants in your home. This goes for live ones as well as any dead ants you find. While commercial pesticides may be safe for outdoor use against flying ants, avoid spraying these in your home, if possible.
For recurring issues, you can put out sticky fly traps. They are not a fix to a more serious problem, but they are economical and worth a try. The same scents that attract flies can lure a flying ant swarm and trap it.
Find the Colony
As with any insect infestation, if you have a colony in your home, you will need to take more aggressive actions. One effective way is to put out bait for the ants. These are designed to resemble food but are poison that the ants take back to the colony.
If the problem is recurring, you may try to identify the source of the ants. You can attempt to trace a stray flying ant back to the colony, or at least the general vicinity.
Explore Outdoor Sources
Especially if you have a garden or potted plants near the entryways to your home, there are some easy ways to cultivate environments that attract predators of flying ants. These include ladybugs and lacewings. Planting cilantro, caraway, dill, fennel, oregano, or daisies is an easy way to draw in insects that flying ants steer clear of.
Call a Professional
If you are unable to find the cause of the problem, or if there is a colony in your home, you should contact a professional. Trained exterminators will have special treatments that can nip the issue in the bud.
They also will be able to identify the causes. This can help eradicate existing infestations and keep new ones from occurring. This has the added benefit of being able to address any other pest problems you may be having.
Find Flying Ant Extermination Services Near You
Now that you know how to get rid of flying ants, you can take steps to free your yard or home of them. With the right treatment regimen and preventative measures, you can get rid of your flying ant infestation and keep the pests away for good.
The warm, subtropical climate of Florida presents unique challenges in the world of pest control. Our company understands this and formulates strategic plans of action based on the specifics of your bug problem. Contact us to schedule flying ant-or other extermination services-today.